A Clear Conscience With Man

Hariette Petersen — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:39:32 +0000

A loud fog-horn blared behind me and joined a police officer’s flashing lights. His cruiser was nearly touching my bumper. He angrily motioned for me to get over. With a car ahead of me, and other cars on my right, I had no place to go. My heart bolted and fear crammed its way into my mind. I frantically pulled over into the grass and the officer whizzed right on by me, screaming at me as he passed. A few seconds later I saw him get out of his vehicle, jerk on a vest with a orange florescent tape and begin calmly talking to another officer at the intersection. He was in a big hurry to assist the other officer direct traffic at a stop-light that motorists were treating like a 4-way stop. There was no emergency. Though relief flooded my mind, my heart still pounded in my chest. I’d done nothing wrong, but my mind replayed the scene over and over.

For me, it is a scary thing to see flashing lights in my rearview mirror. It’s scary because I don’t expect to see them. I try my best to obey the laws of the road. So when an officer blasts a siren or horn behind me, I immediately question what I’ve done.

“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” Acts 24:16

What does it mean “to have a conscience void of offence”? You can think of nothing wrong between you and God. There is nothing wrong between you and anyone else. You are not angry and no one is angry at you. You hold no grudges and no one holds a grudge towards you. You have no guilt. You have lived up to your word; kept your commitments–been truthful and honest.

In Psalm 51:3, David knew the hounding of a bad conscience when he said, “My sin is ever before me.” The bondage of guilt consumed him; it can consume us. Guilt holds us tighter than any shackles of iron. No torture the poets describe can match the fierce unutterable pain of a bad conscience. We know we’ve sinned and yet we do nothing about it. We hold onto it and let it strangle us and keep us imprisoned, unable to move forward.

As Christians, we are made free in Christ. Through Christ we are released from the guilt of our sin. We are given a clear conscience for the sin in our life because Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin. He took our place for the punishment we deserve. When we confess our sins, Jesus is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God’s mercy and grace gives us fresh starts–it justifies us. The trials of life are easier to face when you have a clear conscience.

Then when Satan, and life blares angry horns of accusation, you can know that you are free in Christ. The criticisms are easier to face. Paul wrote that he exercised himself to have a clear conscience. He knew he was free even though he was chained to guards, even though he was surrounded by prison walls. He held onto that conscience–void of offence as he lived out his ministry. He also lived in a way that kept his conscience clear toward man.

PRAYER: LORD, assure us in our times of guilt that You want us to live in the freedom of Christ’s love and forgiveness. Remind us wherein we may fail that You have won the victory for us. Help us right our wrongs and move forward in Your grace without condemnation and guilt.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

Does God Really See All My Sin?

Emily Riley — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:48:38 +0000

Then the Lord God called to the man [Adam], and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ Genesis 3:9

Adam was a man who was familiar with the presence of God. Yet, when he sinned against God, he hid in fear… in fear of this holy God who was now his judge. In his shame, Adam did not want God to see his sin. But the problem with Adam’s attempt in the garden was that he was completely unable to hide from the God who knows all.

There have been times in my life when I, like Adam, have tried to hide my sin from God. A while back I was reading through Hebrews and came across the following passage:

And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13

Naked and exposed? I don’t like the sound of that. In fact, it sounds like what I’m sure Adam felt in the garden. For the first time in his life, he was aware of his nakedness. Despite his attempts to hide, he was exposed. It is quite an understatement to say this was an uncomfortable position for Adam… to be naked before a holy God.

Yet, though Adam’s sin separated him from God, God was still drawing near to be with him. God offered the promise that a Redeemer would come, a sacrifice would be made for sins so that Adam and all those who believe can be reconciled with God.

When I look around and see sin in my life, it is comforting to read on in Hebrews. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, I am no longer naked and exposed before the judge in guilt and shame… I can come boldly before His throne with confidence, holding fast to the hope found in my Savior.

And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:13 – 16

Through the cross of Jesus Christ, God the Judge does not excuse our sin; He offers forgiveness for it. He allows us to come and stand before Him with confidence, no longer in nakedness and shame but clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Let us thank Him today for His sacrifice and the forgiveness He offers us!

Devotional Christian » guilt

A Clear Conscience With Man

Does God Really See All My Sin?